Revision: Jan. 21, 2010, midnight
HB 495 – AS INTRODUCED
2005 SESSION
06/01
HOUSE BILL 495
AN ACT relative to court records in civil cases involving taxpayer money.
SPONSORS: Rep. Dumaine, Rock 3
This bill prohibits confidential judgments in civil cases involving taxpayer money.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
05-0255
06/01
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Five
AN ACT relative to court records in civil cases involving taxpayer money.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Entry of Judgment; Civil Cases Involving Taxpayer Money. Amend RSA 524:1-c to read as follows:
524:1-c Entry of Judgment.
I. Upon a general verdict of a jury, or upon a decision by the court, that a party shall recover only a sum certain or costs or that all relief shall be denied, the clerk, unless the court otherwise orders, shall forthwith, sign, and enter the judgment upon motion of the prevailing party without awaiting any direction by the court. In all other civil cases, the court shall promptly approve the form of the judgment, and the clerk shall thereupon enter it as of the judgment day next following the return of verdict or filing of findings. The entry of judgment shall not prejudice the rights of any party to undertake further proceedings in the same cause on the basis of exceptions previously preserved.
II. No judgment or settlement in any civil case involving taxpayer money shall be confidential. Taxpayer money includes money raised by taxes which is used by any form of government to pay liability insurance premiums on a policy which provides legal services or which is used in a court action to pay costs or fees, including attorneys’ fees, or to indemnify or hold harmless any person or entity.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2006.